Isiyaku Ahmed
Resident Doctors under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have resolved to commence a five-day warning strike to compel the federal government to attend to its demands.
President of NARD, Dr Emeka Orji confirmed the 5-day warning strike.
Stallion Times gathered that the industrial action will commence on Wednesday, May 17, and end on Monday, May 22.
The decision to down tool was taken after the doctors’ extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held virtually on Monday.
This was just as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its extraordinary meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday with an objection to the private member bill before the National Assembly seeking to control the migration of medical doctors for greener pastures abroad.
Reports say the resident doctors have been at loggerheads with the Federal Government over poor remuneration, and better welfare for their members among other concerns.
They are demanding an immediate increment in the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure to the tune of 200 percent of the current gross salary of doctors and the new allowances included in the letter written by the association to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on July 7, 2022, on the review of CONMESS.
However, briefing newsmen shortly after the FEC meeting at the State House, Abuja, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said the warning strike by the doctors was not necessary since the government was already engaged with the NMA, their umbrella body.
“On the demand for 200 percent salary increase, the NMA is the father of all doctors in Nigeria and they have about four or five affiliates of which the resident doctors is an association affiliating there,” he stated.
“You have the Medical and Dental Consultants Association (MEDIAN), they are the consultants who are training these medical doctors to become specialists. You also have a general medical practitioners association and you also have doctors working in the private sector.
“So, NMA is the father of all including me. So, NMA is discussing with the Federal Ministry of Health, salaries income and wages commission, and the Ministry of Labour and we know that NMA has accepted a salary increase between 25 and 30 percent across the board for their members.
“So, I don’t know the logic by which people who are members of NMA are now coming up to say pay us 200 percent increase. I don’t understand it.
“I have called the NMA President to contact them because, on the issue of remuneration negotiation, it’s NMA that the government deals with. So, I have told the President of NMA to contact them, and we will engage them. They should not go on any strike, it’s not necessary.”
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